How life has changed in Tamworth

Tamworth's population increased by about 2,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 77,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Tamworth increased by 3.1%, from about 74,500 to 76,800.

The addition of almost 2,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tamworth was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tamworth

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tamworth increased by four years, from 35 to 39 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the West Midlands and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 11.0% of people in Tamworth are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Tamworth

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Tamworth, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 14.6 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 31.3% of respondents in Tamworth said they had no religion, up from 16.6% in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 13.3% to 23.5%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 67.4% of respondents in Tamworth said they were Christian, down from 82.5% in 2001. About 0.4% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from 0.2% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Tamworth increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

Tamworth saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56.7%) households in Tamworth had no children, compared with 53.1% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 35.5% to 32.0%.

Across the region, Wyre Forest saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households without children (from 60.0% in 2001 to 63.5% in 2011).

During this period, Tamworth fell below four local authority areas, including Birmingham and Sandwell, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the fifth-lowest percentage of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Tamworth residents that were studying increased from 2.6% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58.2%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 60.2% in 2001. The percentage of Tamworth residents that were unemployed increased from 3.6% to 4.5%.

The proportion of students decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the West Midlands. The improvement brought health in Tamworth close to the regional average 3.3% in the West Midlands described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of students was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Tamworth

In 2011, 97.3% of Tamworth residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.1% in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 88.7% to 82.7%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.1% of people in Tamworth said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.7% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.5% to 0.5%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Tamworth remained close to 97.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Tamworth

The percentage of Tamworth residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.4% to 6.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.6%, while the percentage of Tamworth residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.0% to 89.4%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.1% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Tamworth at a faster rate than in Lichfield (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Tamworth).

In Tamworth, the proportion of private renting increased from 3.9% in 2001 to 11.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Lichfield increased from 5.5% to 9.5%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.2% to 14.0%.

The rate of social housing in Tamworth fell from 21.2% to 19.3%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72.9% to 68.2%.

Private renting in Tamworth increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tamworth, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Tamworth that were married decreased from 54.5% to 49.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in three (31.7%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 27.4% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Tamworth that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.3% to 12.8%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 52.4% in 2001 to 47.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Tamworth working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.7% to 10.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 12.5% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Tamworth decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Tamworth, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Tamworth residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.7% to 5.7% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80.8%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.1% in 2001. The percentage of Tamworth residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.2% to 13.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Tamworth decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Tamworth, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of one-person households increased in Tamworth at a faster rate than across the West Midlands.

In Tamworth, the proportion of one-person households increased from 23.2% in 2001 to 26.1% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 28.8% to 29.5%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of one-person households increased from 28.8% to 29.5%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Tamworth increased from 10.2% to 11.7%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 44.5% to 37.5%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Tamworth residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.4% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.3% in 2001 to 2.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Tamworth remained close to 2.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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